Risk stratification for small for gestational age for the Brazilian population: a secondary analysis of the Birth in Brazil study.

Risk-stratification screening for SGA has been proposed in high-income countries to prevent perinatal morbidity and mortality. There is paucity of data from middle-income settings. The aim of this study is to explore risk factors for SGA in Brazil and assess potential for risk stratification. This population-based study is a secondary analysis of Birth in Brazil study, conducted in 266 maternity units between 2011 and 2012. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were performed, and population attributable fraction estimated for early and all pregnancy factors. We calculated absolute risk, odds ratio, and population prevalence of single or combined factors stratified by parity. Factors associated with SGA were maternal lupus (ORadj 4.36, 95% CI [2.32-8.18]), hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (ORadj 2.72, 95% CI [2.28-3.24]), weight gain < 5 kg (ORadj 2.37, 95% CI [1.99-2.83]), smoking at late pregnancy (ORadj 2.04, 95% CI [1.60-2.59]), previous low birthweight (ORadj 2.22, 95% CI [1.79-2.75]), nulliparity (ORadj 1.81, 95% CI [1.60-2.05]), underweight (ORadj 1.61, 95% CI [1.36-1.92]) and socioeconomic status (SES) < 5th centile (ORadj 1.23, 95% CI [1.05-1.45]). Having two or more risk factors (prevalence of 4.4% and 8.0%) was associated with a 2 and fourfold increase in the risk for SGA in nulliparous and multiparous, respectively. Early and all pregnancy risk factors allow development of risk-stratification for SGA. Implementation of risk stratification coupled with specific strategies for reduction of risk and increased surveillance has the potential to contribute to the reduction of stillbirth in Brazil through increased detection of SGA, appropriate management and timely delivery

Prevalence of syphilis in pregnancy and prenatal syphilis testing in Brazil: Birth in Brazil study

OBJETIVO Analisar a cobertura de testagem para sífilis durante a assistência pré-natal e estimar a prevalência de sífilis na gestação. MÉTODOS Coorte nacional de base hospitalar, realizada no Brasil, de 2011 a 2012, com 23.894 mulheres. Foram utilizados dados obtidos na entrevista com a puérpera, no prontuário hospitalar e nos cartões de pré-natal. Foram considerados casos de sífilis na gestação todas as gestantes com resultado de sorologia reagente no cartão ou diagnóstico de sífilis durante a internação para o parto. Prevalência de sífilis e coberturas de testagem foram analisadas segundo região de residência, cor da pele, escolaridade, idade materna e tipo de serviço de assistência pré-natal e ao parto, com utilização do teste estatístico Qui-quadrado. RESULTADOS Houve cobertura pré-natal de 98,7% das mulheres, cobertura de testagem para sífilis de 89,1% (um exame) e 41,2% (dois exames), bem como prevalência de sífilis na gestação de 1,02% (IC95% 0,84;1,25). Menor cobertura pré-natal foi observada na região Norte, em indígenas, em mulheres com menor escolaridade e naquelas atendidas em serviços públicos. Coberturas mais baixas de testagem ocorreram em residentes nas regiões Norte, Nordeste e Centro-Oeste, Sul em mulheres não brancas, mais jovens, de menor escolaridade e atendidas em serviços públicos. Maior prevalência de sífilis foi estimada em mulheres com menos de oito anos de escolaridade (1,74%), que se declararam pretas (1,8%) ou pardas (1,2%), mulheres sem pré-natal (2,5%) e naquelas atendidas em serviços públicos (1,37%) ou mistos (0,93%). CONCLUSÕES A prevalência estimada de sífilis na gestação foi semelhante à encontrada no último Estudo-Sentinela Parturiente realizado em 2006. Houve ampliação da cobertura pré-natal e de testagem, com alcance das metas sugeridas pela Organização Mundial da Saúde em duas regiões. Desigualdades regionais e sociais no acesso aos serviços de saúde, aliadas a outras falhas na assistência, para a persistência da sífilis congênita como importante problema de saúde pública no País.OBJECTIVE Determine the coverage rate of syphilis testing during prenatal care and the prevalence of syphilis in pregnant women in Brazil. METHODS This is a national hospital-based cohort study conducted in Brazil with 23,894 postpartum women between 2011 and 2012. Data were obtained using interviews with postpartum women, hospital records, and prenatal care cards. All postpartum women with a reactive serological test result recorded in the prenatal care card or syphilis diagnosis during hospitalization for childbirth were considered cases of syphilis in pregnancy. The Chi-square test was used for determining the disease prevalence and testing coverage rate by region of residence, self-reported skin color, maternal age, and type of prenatal and child delivery care units. RESULTS Prenatal care covered 98.7% postpartum women. Syphilis testing coverage rate was 89.1% (one test) and 41.2% (two tests), and syphilis prevalence in pregnancy was 1.02% (95%CI 0.84;1.25). A lower prenatal coverage rate was observed among women in the North region, indigenous women, those with less education, and those who received prenatal care in public health care units. A lower testing coverage rate was observed among residents in the North, Northeast, and Midwest regions, among younger and non-white skin-color women, among those with lower education, and those who received prenatal care in public health care units. An increased prevalence of syphilis was observed among women with < 8 years of education (1.74%), who self-reported as black (1.8%) or mixed (1.2%), those who did not receive prenatal care (2.5%), and those attending public (1.37%) or mixed (0.93%) health care units. CONCLUSIONS The estimated prevalence of syphilis in pregnancy was similar to that reported in the last sentinel surveillance study conducted in 2006. There was an improvement in prenatal care and testing coverage rate, and the goals suggested by the World Health Organization were achieved in two regions. Regional and social inequalities in access to health care units, coupled with other gaps in health assistance, have led to the persistence of congenital syphilis as a major public health problem in Brazil

Housing conditions as a social determinant of low birthweight and preterm low birthweight

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between housing conditions and low birthweight and preterm low birthweight among low-income women. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted with post-partum women living in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Southeast Brazil, in 2003-2005. Two groups of cases, low birthweight (n=96) and preterm low birthweight infants (n=68), were compared against normal weight term controls (n=393). Housing conditions were categorized into three levels: adequate, inadequate, and highly inadequate. Covariates included sociodemographic and anthropometric characteristics, risk behaviors, violence, anxiety, satisfaction during pregnancy, obstetric history and prenatal care. RESULTS: Poor housing conditions was independently associated with low birthweight (inadequate - OR 2.3 [1.1;4.6]; highly inadequate - OR 7.6 [2.1;27.6]) and preterm low birthweight (inadequate - OR 2.2 [1.1;4.3]; highly inadequate - OR 7.6 [2.4;23.9]) and factors associated with outcomes were inadequate prenatal care and previous preterm birth. Low income and low maternal body mass index remained associated with low birthweight. CONCLUSIONS: Poor housing conditions were associated with low birthweight and preterm low birthweight